Social Responsibility

As a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the YMCA was created in response to social challenges and remains to this day a lifeline in communities around the world. Our Y understands the challenges that keep individuals from reaching their full potential and responds with services and support which help people to be self-reliant, productive and connected to the community.

The Family Y fulfills a role in our community unlike any other organization. We partner with a wide array of other community groups, connecting people of all ages and backgrounds to bridge the gaps in community needs.

Community Support

At the Y, strengthening community is our cause. Ys cultivate opportunities for youth, families, and older adults to learn, grow and become a part of a healthier, happier community. In addition to measurable benefits our programs deliver at the local level, we strengthen the community at a state and national level as well.

The Y enriches everybody in our community, whether they use the facility or not, by keeping our children and teens active and involved. Hundreds of local 4th-7th graders attended the Y’s Youth Fun Nights, held once a month on Saturdays at the Y.

The Family Y provides space and resources to many community groups, hosting a number of community-wide events that are open to all, including Healthy Kids Day. In 2015, our Y’s support to nonprofit partners totaled $116,000.

Volunteerism & Giving

The generosity of others is at the core of our existence. It is only through the support of our many dedicated volunteers and generous donors that we are able to give back to the communities we serve.

As a charity, YMCAs across Connecticut exist to strengthen their communities and every day we work with thousands of men, women and children to ensure that everyone, regardless of age, in-come or background has the opportunity to learn, grown and thrive.

The Connecticut Alliance of YMCAs is comprised of 23 YMCAs, each volunteer led, and a powerful advocate of the needs of children, families and individuals throughout the Constitution State. In 2013, our Ys served 229,000 members, hosted 520 community-wide events and gave back a total of $17.4 million in financial assistance and community support.

Swimming & Water Safety

Since our founding in 1923, we’ve taught more than 35,000 local kids and adults how to swim, a vital life skill in a coastal community blessed with beaches, lakes, private clubs and many backyard pools.

Young people in underserved communities often do not learn the critical water safety and swimming skills to keep them safe, which results in a disproportionate amount of deaths and injuries each year. Our Y is working to address this important issue by offering learn-to-swim programs and raising awareness of the importance of water safety in neighboring communities. Each summer, through our partnership with Horizons at GFA, Bridgeport students enrolled in this summer-enrichment program participate in weekly swim lessons and recreational swims at our Y.